Advertisement

There is a constant war going on between luxury watch brands, not only for customer's interest and money, for counter space in retailers, but also for ambassadors. Finding athletes that actually make sense with a conservative Swiss watch manufacture ain't easy, so it's always interesting to see where the money is spent. Today, we have news that Zenith, whose previous forays into ambassadors include Felix Baumgartner (check out his watch here), have just signed NBA star Russell Westbrook, of the Oklahoma City Thunder. How does this relationship compare to say, Dwyane Wade and Hublot, or AP and LeBron? That remains to be seen, but it's an interesting step for Zenith, for sure. More here.

Zenith doesn't exhibit at the SIHH, but we still found time while in Geneva to check out some new introductions and updates from the brand. While the major product releases will come in Basel, there was a small handful of watches that caught my eye and here I'll show you the three most worth your attention right now. These are three very different watches, but all offer seriously incredible value for in-house watchmaking.

Zenith has quickly built up its current Pilot collection of watches after starting with only one massive 57.5mm, provocative model. What you’re looking at here is the latest Zenith Pilot, which pays tribute to the Wright Brothers’ first heavier-than-air flight on Kitty Hawk beach in 1903. It is limited to (not surprisingly) 1,903 pieces, and Zenith has dubbed it the “Pilot Montre D’Aeronef Type 20 GMT 1903.” We anticipate a shortened nickname in the near future for that mouthful, but for now we’re going with “1903."

It’s no quiet fact that the Zenith Calibre 410 is well-respected. This automatic column-wheel chronograph movement with moon phase and calendar functions was retired in 2000, after more than three decades of use. Recognizing the technical significance of this movement, Zenith has decided to bring it back once more for the new El Primero 410, limited to 500 pieces. All the details after the jump.

A few weeks ago we had the opportunity to go hands-on with Zenith's latest technological innovation, the El Primero Lightweight. This new take on the Striking Tenth chronograph telegraphs a new direction for Zenith, one that promises the use of new materials and a dedication to emulating the spirit of innovation that gave us the original El Primero in 1969. This was is one that you really have to see to believe and here we've got live photos to prove it.

I am writing you from my hotel room in Geneva, just a few hours after celebrating the best in watchmaking at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Geneve. This annual awards are presented to the finest timepieces that were over the past twelve months in a range of categories from Grand Complication to Best Ladies Watch. The jury consisted of 23 people from a host of industries including designer Philippe Starck, architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, musician (and our old pal) John Mayer, several world-class collectors such as Claude Sfeir and Viren Bhagat, several top tier journalists such as Elizabeth Doerr, Nick Foulkes, Sean Li, Carlos Alonso, and Jean-Philippe Arm, the CEO of last year's winner (TAG Heuer's Stephane Linder), Christie's international head of watches Aurel Bacs, and, well, me.

Here at HODINKEE we're big fans of Zenith's Striking Tenth Chronograph (you can read the full Week on the Wrist review here). Now Zenith presents a new interpretation of the Striking Tenth, the El Primero Lightweight, which uses new materials to construct a lighter movement and case while keeping all that power. Like the Striking Tenth, this one is a limited edition and here we've got all the details.

This is a watch that is a long time coming. In fact, we'd bet most of
you thought this watch already existed. It didn't, until this Basel
World. What it is is a 42mm El Primero with the traditional Zenith
Tri-Color dial. It is just an awesome looking watch with a wonderful
in-house high-beat chronograph movement that has thousands of fans the
world over. And now its available in a moderately sized case, and not in a limited edition.

Last year's monster Pilot's watch (Type 20) from Zenith was a run-away success for the brand. So much so in fact that for BaselWorld 2013, they've release an entire line around it - including this guy. You're looking at an annual calendar chronograph in a 48mm case.

Have you ever wondered just how fast 5Hz actually is? Knowing that 5 Hz means 10 beats per second (36,000 beats per hour) is very different from having a realistic sense of how fast that actually is. Zenith has recorded one of their high beat El Primero movements in action though, and now you can listen for yourself. Click through to give the El Primero a listen and for more on this historic movement.

Advertisement

Friday March 3, 2012

HODINKEE is one of the most widely read wristwatch publications in the world. Launched in 2008 by then 25-year-old Benjamin Clymer, the site quickly gained notoriety for earnest looks at some of the industry’s most interesting, and occasionally forgotten timepieces.